44 Year Old Single Mom Tummy Tuck with Liposuction with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Automimmune Disorder on Humira

I am happy to report that i have had no psoriasis or PsA flares. My incision is closed and is a very thin purplish line that continues to fade. My swelling is minimal, but increases during the day in my pubic area--only something i would notice. I am completely active and back to cardio, free weights, but still do minimal ab works. I still have occasional abdominal muscle tightening that comes and goes. I have slept on my stomach for a couple of hours here and there and tolerated well. I no longer wear the spanx or binder and feel fine. I would do this surgery 10x over. My only regret--NOT doing this sooner. If you are in the Indiana area, Dr. Turkle is hands down one of the best.

I had my 3 week check up today. Incision looks great-bought Skinprint Healing serum from the PS. Need to apply twice a day and massage scar as often as necessary. I am down 10 pounds from day of surgery and a size and half in clothes. I still have lower abdominal swelling, but it has diminished. I was told i could go from PS binder to spanx. I am also allowed to start cardio, but NO core work. I have been off all meds including OTC for one week. I could not be more happy with the results and was told i wont see the full result until 6 months.

After having 3 kids in 4 years (now 16, 14, 12), my stomach was left with sagging skin and stretch marks from pubic area to above belly button. I had wanted a tummy tuck for 11 years, but always hesitated due to autoimmune issue and costs. 2 years ago i got divorced and the urgency to have the TT and lipo on abdomen done became stronger for me personally. I am 5'4 165lbs--I am curvy with a bigger frame but proportionate in general with 36DD natural boobs). I went for a consult, got financing thru Prosper loans and set the date. Due to having psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, i had to get clearance thru my rheumatologist. I did just that-his recommendation was to take Humira 2 weeks prior to surgery and then one week after. Humira had controlled both issues for 11 years now. Occasionally, i would get a flare on my scalp, but nothing to the degree of crippling PsA I have the guttate form of psoriasis.
Here is my story and hopefully it helps someone in a similar situation:
Dec 19, 2016--(Day before surgery)--i had read so many horror stories on the internet that i had freaked myself out, 2nd guessed myself and had to talk myself back into the surgery (pre-paying and not getting a refund helped with that too. :) I kept myself busy cleaning bc i knew i wouldn't be able to do that for about 6 weeks.
Dec 20 (Day of surgery) Surgery scheduled for 1pm but surgery room got behind on cases--(kept myself busy by looking at FB, texting friends and visualizing the perfect surgery and outcome.) Finally went back at 3:30pm. 2 hour surgery, then didn't wake up from anesthesia for 2 hours then awake for one hour before being able to leave. The binder was in place already when out of surgery. The surgeon removed 6 pounds of skin and 1 liter from Liposuction (this is upper curve of average). I woke up in pain even after having Exparel. The nurse told me that doesnt always work right away. She gave me pain meds, that controlled it and off i went. Surprisingly, i was hungry and not nauseated. My ride took me to drop my script off for Norco and we went and ate pizza. (yeah shocked me too.) I set myself up a calendar invite to take my Norco every 4 hours, my Neurontin every 12 hours and Lovenox every 24 hours. This helped me keep track of everything. After my first round of Norco (Vicodin), i realized it wired me. I was unable to sleep, my mind was racing and i was ready to clean the house again (other than i phyically couldn't). I took this for 24 hours because i didnt want to fill the much controversial Oxycodone. However, after speaking with MD, i filled the script. This was the best thing i could do. I felt so much better and slept better too on Oxycodone.
Dec 21 (Post op day 1): Being a single mom, i had to take my daughter to the MD at 1pm this day (couldnt reschedule). I did fine with the pain meds on board. (Obviously, i had a driver). We then went to Panera for lunch. Peeing with the binder isn't too bad except for having to fasten it once the velcro flap falls back to your bottom area. Trying to reach back and get it is kind of difficult given the tightness of your abdominal muscles. Day 2 came and went and i survived it.
Dec 22 (post op day 2) Time to take a shower-my friend had to help me in all ways. She had to help me get in and out of the binder, and dry off my back side. I was able to do the shower part. It felt really good and this was the first time i got a good look at my stomach--it was bruised in areas, dressings on in the different lipo sites and gauze in my belly button. All of that came off except the steri strips on my incision. I was very swollen but could still see a better silhouette than before surgery. I did see stretch marks still and that bummed me out a bit. The surgeon can only remove stretch marks from your pubic area to belly button. If they are over the belly button, then they get pulled down to below belly button, but they are all still there. They are tightened though so less of an appearance. I remained on my oxycodone/neurontin schedule--drank a lot of water and had senna pills each day.
Dec 23 (Post op day 3) --typically the worst day after surgery--I survived on pain meds, i did get out of the house again to do some light shopping at Target to finish up some holiday shopping. I then ate out again at a restaurant. Car rides are tolerable, but you will have to hold your stomach a lot. Now to the poop part. I realized i hadnt gone since the day before surgery. It had been 4 days not and i had no feeling to go. I bought Mag Citrate and drank the bottle. Well oops, what was i thinking-haha. I not only went, I went again after i got all tucked back in bed and then again. Oh well, i was cleaned out.
Dec 24 (Post of day 4)-- I had a family Christmas event. This time i took my binder off myself, showered and then had my son help me get the one side of the binder fastened. (gotta do what you gotta do). I put on jeans and they were more loose than before even with the binder on. This was motivating. I put on my make-up and red lipstick and NO one at the party could tell i even had surgery. I then came back home to rest. I did a lot of resting in between outings. Pain was fine, abdominal tightness is just annoying, not painful.
Dec 25 (post op day 5) Christmas at my house. All kids up early--it was fun, took it easy and headed to another family party. Did fine, but was wiped out by end of night. In bed at 8pm. This would be my last dose of Oxycodone. I slept thru alarm for 12am and 4am pain meds. Woke up feeling fine so moved to Ibuprofen 800mg.
Dec 26 (post op day 6 and today) Survived on iburprofen with no additional pain, just abdominal tightness. I took a shower, put on a cute bra and underwear and took a photo--was very excited, then put on the binder by myself. Later, I drove my kids to a local store at 4pm and did just fine. I am able to get in and out of car fairly quickly, not on pain meds and am alert--these were the requirements by my surgeon before i could drive. Lastly, I am writing this review so i don't forget anything 6 weeks from now from the first 5 days--which are typically the worst. I will check back in a few weeks with some more update.